Do it in the pants that you wear.

Well now my question is, how do I conceal in US M-51 pants? The pockets on those are small and when it's adjusted to my waist, no room to comfortable IWB carry. I've been since moving away from wearing these because they're so bad for CC, unless I bought a different belt and didn't adjust them to my waist.

9mmepiphany said:

I’m confused by this. Are you timing from 1)reaching for the gun, 2)presenting the gun, and 3) hitting a target (3’ away) accurately?

I’ve attended numerous training classes and competed for a number of years and have never seen the first accurate shot from a pocket draw beat either a draw from an IWB under a untucked shirt or a OWB from under an unbuttoned concealment garment. This include starting with hand on the gun or relaxed at shooter’s sides

Click to expand...

So, I don't compete and I don't know what the rules are. When I'm out and about I have a grip on my pistol most of the time. Drawing and presenting is as quick as removing my hand from my pocket and I can't replicate that speed OWB or IWB unless I also begin with my hand on my pistol. But strolling through city shops with my hand on a IWB/OWB holstered pistol trends to draw attention.

I indeed practice drawing with every pair of pants I wear and ensure a snag free draw.

Sitting is a problem, but that usually only happens in my truck, where the pistol rides in map pocket holster.

How about the "Charlie Harper" look from "Two and a Half Men"

https://charlieharpershirts.com

Twisted Chemist said:

Hmm, maybe something is a red plaid....

Click to expand...

Or Denzel Washington in "Out of Time"

https://bamfstyle.com/2018/06/26/out-of-time-denzel-aloha-shirt/

He wears a similar cover shirt in "Man on Fire". Both could be worn over suspenders.

Twisted Chemist said:

Hmm, maybe something is a red plaid....

Click to expand...

I just wear a camping shirt

JTQ said:

How about the "Charlie Harper" look from "Two and a Half Men"

https://charlieharpershirts.com

Click to expand...

JTQ said:

Or Denzel Washington in "Out of Time"

https://bamfstyle.com/2018/06/26/out-of-time-denzel-aloha-shirt/

He wears a similar cover shirt in "Man on Fire". Both could be worn over suspenders.

Click to expand...

I have found that the straight vertical lines on many bowling shirts make the gun more visible, as any break in the line draws the eye. That's why I go with Hawaiian ("aloha" now, I guess) shirts instead, as the typically busy patterns break up the outline of the gun.

It’s why I don’t pocket carry in jeans. I’ve got muscular legs so in any jeans that actually fit my waist reasonably (still enough space for a IWB pistol) and don’t drape like a tent, anything in the pockets is tight and noticeable. Cargo shorts in the summer? Easier prospect there.

TarDevil said:

So, I don't compete and I don't know what the rules are. When I'm out and about I have a grip on my pistol most of the time. Drawing and presenting is as quick as removing my hand from my pocket and I can't replicate that speed OWB or IWB unless I also begin with my hand on my pistol. But strolling through city shops with my hand on a IWB/OWB holstered pistol trends to draw attention.

I indeed practice drawing with every pair of pants I wear and ensure a snag free draw.

Sitting is a problem, but that usually only happens in my truck, where the pistol rides in map pocket holster.

Click to expand...

So you walk around all the time with your hand on your pistol in the pocket? How do you … do things?

JR24 said:

So you walk around all the time with your hand on your pistol in the pocket? How do you … do things?

Click to expand...

Second sentence of my post. It's right there above your question...

When I'm out and about I have a grip on my pistol most of the time.

Click to expand...

I put it in bold in case you keep missing it. Not "all the time." I incorrectly assumed everyone would keep this in perspective.

TarDevil said:

Second sentence of my post. It's right there above your question...


I put it in bold in case you keep missing it. Not "all the time." I incorrectly assumed everyone would keep this in perspective.

Click to expand...

Even so, if I’m out of my house and about, most of the time I’m doing things, not just casually strolling or standing with my hands in my pockets. Shopping, getting gas, holding a dog leash, corralling kids, eating, carrying stuff for my wife, etc etc. Much can be done with my left hand, but my other hand in the pocket would be both annoying and look weird.

I guess it’s different strokes and all that.

Sigh. Guess when pocket carrying now we can't indulge in our preferred style of attire...

Old Dog said:

Sigh. Guess when pocket carrying now we can't indulge in our preferred style of attire...

Click to expand...

I tend to wear clothes that fit instead of wearing baggy or oversized clothing. A pair straight leg jeans or chinos that fit are what I usually wear.

Heir Kommt Die Sonne said:

Well now my question is, how do I conceal in US M-51 pants? The pockets on those are small and when it's adjusted to my waist, no room to comfortable IWB carry. I've been since moving away from wearing these because they're so bad for CC, unless I bought a different belt and didn't adjust them to my waist.

Click to expand...

I had to look these up, as I'd never heard of them before.

All I have to say is that how a person chooses to carry is based on several factors, such as the firearm to be carried, individual body geometry, individual weight, the belt being worn, the style of clothing being worn, what season of the year, holster design/preference, etc.

That means that something which might suit me may not suit someone else. It also means that a person may have to change the style/type of clothing they normally wear, may need to lose some weight, or may need to choose a different location/type of carry.

If the pants don't work, change something about your pants so that it WILL work. Different waist size, different brand, different style, etc.

I'm extremely hot natured and wear Nautica or Orvis shorts all day year round, except on Sundays when I sing. Plenty big enough for my LC9s in a DeSantis pocket holster. Even when I'm not maintaining a grip in my pocket, I can still get to the gun as quick as IWB, maybe slightly less that OWB.

I ain't advocating my carry style for everyone. For a variety of reasons, it's what works for me. I don't dress in tight fitting clothes, but neither do I wear stuff that looks like a tent. It's what I would wear anyway.

9mmepiphany said:

I couldn’t even fathom walking around with a hand in my pocket “most of the time”.

The image that first came to mind was someone with a non-functional arm who kept it in his pocket to keep it from flopping around

Click to expand...

Well, I guess that's me. A non-functional.

Pocket carry has a advantage when using a toilet stall or porta potty.

Effortlessly carrying a hammerless .357 Magnum in a coat pocket while walking the dog is a total breeze.
It allows a full firing grip while simultaneously walking along all friendly Johnny/Susie-on-the-block casual.
I increasingly favor greater capacity of semiautomatics, yet for relaxed non-tacticool a pocket revolver is nice.

Styx said:

To me it's only one step up from purse carry, and of course if a woman is robbed, the first thing that the thief will be fixated on is her purse.

Click to expand...

Well, that baffles me a bit. I’ve been pocket carrying habitually for 30 years and you can present pretty damn fast from the pocket. The great virtue of pocket carry is you can have your hand on the grip in virtually any situation from no-threat to high-threat.
But, yeah. The pocket has to accommodate the gun AND the hand.

commygun said:

Well, that baffles me a bit. I’ve been pocket carrying habitually for 30 years and you can present pretty damn fast from the pocket. The great virtue of pocket carry is you can have your hand on the grip in virtually any situation from no-threat to high-threat.
But, yeah. The pocket has to accommodate the gun AND the hand.

Click to expand...

True, IF you have your hand in the pocket it’s pretty fast. But that requires you to either have your hand in you pocket all the time (which does present issues, especially if you need that hand for balance or are attacked) or requires you to see the threat coming.

It can work fine and I’ll admit to be looking again at a small pocket gun for random fishing trips with the kids across the street when I don’t feel like belting on a real gun, or the above mentioned coat pocket carry revolver, very useful in the winter for me if I’m wearing my good parka.

We all have our preferences and I think all methods have pros and cons.

earplug said:

Pocket carry has a advantage when using a toilet stall or porta potty.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily.

I carry a full sized Colt 1991A1 IWB exclusively and never have any problems in public restrooms.

When dropping pants and underwear, pull the waistband of the underwear over the top of the holstered pistol. This holds the pistol firmly next to your calf and also has the advantage of concealing the firearm from view under the partition between stalls.

Easy-peasy.

I pocket carry a Sig P229 RX all day, every day. Duluth Trading Company cargo pants/shorts accommodate that perfectly in a Sticky holster. It comes out very quickly. I'd challenge most under the shirt, inside the waistband carriers any day for speed to first shot.

But probably more to the point for me is that it's a very comfortable way to carry. And if you don't find a comfortable way to carry, most are not going to carry very often. I've watched my wife struggle with that. IWB, belly bands, purses, planners, etc. She has not found a good way that works everyday, so she rarely carries. I've read that 90+% of CC permit holders do not carry on a regular basis. Easy to believe.

JEBruns said:

I pocket carry a Sig P229 RX all day, every day. Duluth Trading Company cargo pants/shorts accommodate that perfectly in a Sticky holster. It comes out very quickly. I'd challenge most under the shirt, inside the waistband carriers any day for speed to first shot.

But probably more to the point for me is that it's a very comfortable way to carry. And if you don't find a comfortable way to carry, most are not going to carry very often. I've watched my wife struggle with that. IWB, belly bands, purses, planners, etc. She has not found a good way that works everyday, so she rarely carries. I've read that 90+% of CC permit holders do not carry on a regular basis. Easy to believe.

Click to expand...

Where are you getting the stats that "90+% of CC permit holders do not carry on a regular basis?" That seems like an incredible and assumption based stat that someone pulled out of thin air. Unless the tens of millions who either have a carry permit or who live in Constitutional Carry states were polled, I can not see how anyone could know that stat. Even if they cold called a few random gun owners, we are less likely to give out or be truthful about that information. I don't even want my neighbors, acquaintances, and even many of my family members to know I am carrying or own firearms. I find it hard to believe that out of 90% out of the over 21.52 million people who have permits (we aren't even including those who don't need a permit to carry legally) aren't doing so regularly. Not easy to believe for me.

IMHO, with all the plethora of holsters and featherweight teeny tiny handgun options available on the market in this day and age, comfort should be the LAST excuse or reason why someone is not carrying whether they try to carry in the pocket or not. IMHO, people who as a general rule find a gun, especially a mouse or pocket sized gun, uncomfortable to carry are using the wrong holster.